YREKA – Edward Henline Sr., the McCloud man charged with murder in connection to the disappearance of 15-year-old Hannah Zaccaglini back in 1997, appeared in the Siskiyou County Superior Court on Monday for his arraignment.

Before a crowded courtroom, Henline Sr., 57, entered a plea of not guilty to the murder charge.

Superior Court Judge Donald Langford set Henline Sr.’s bail at $500,000 and ordered him to reappear in court on Dec. 11.

Siskiyou County District Attorney Kirk Andrus told the Daily News that he agreed to the bail ordered by Langford because it is the statutory figure for a charge of this nature.

“For the sake of the family, I would have preferred that he continue to be held without bail,” commented Siskiyou County Sheriff Jon Lopey who was present at the arraignment.

According to the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), on June 5, 1997 Hannah went missing shortly after being last seen walking with Henline in the vicinity of his home in McCloud.

Henline was arrested and charged for the cold case murder on Nov. 15.

Two days later, his son Edward Henline Jr., 35, of Klamath Falls, Ore., was arrested and charged in connection to Zaccaglini’s disappearance by SCSO detectives and officers from the Klamath Falls Police Department.

Henline Jr. is charged with conspiracy and assessory to commit a crime and he was booked into the Klamath County Jail.